Peyton Manning Doesn’t Dwell On Past Playoff Experiences

DENVER (CBS4) – Peyton Manning doesn’t want to spend much time looking back at past playoff experiences; he’s focused on this weekend’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

There’s good reason why Manning is focused on this weekend and ignoring history. That’s because as good as he’s been in his career, his post season numbers have been a source of criticism.

Twelve times Manning has taken teams to the post season, and eight times it was a “one and done” proposition, including last year’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Manning’s playoff record stands at 9-11. The Chargers are familiar with his struggles as they have knocked him out of the post season twice when Manning played for the Indianapolis Colts. Manning says all the talk of his playoff record is ancient history.

“It’s easy to summarize, to take a whole bunch of football seasons and lump them together. I personally don’t believe in that theory, how it works,” Manning said. “I think each season takes on its own identity and different things occurred along the way at different points of my career — in anybody’s career.

“This is the 2013 season, 2014 postseason, and it’s its own chapter. We’re looking forward to hopefully writing it for a number of more weeks.”

The Broncos are trying to become the first No. 1 seed in the AFC to win the Super Bowl since the New England Patriots in 2003. Manning said he likes the pressure of being a No. 1 seed.

“Certainly. To be in this game means you have done something well. It means you’ve played good football all season, giving yourself an opportunity. Only eight teams left, just four games this weekend. We’re excited to be one of them. Glad to be in this tournament and looking forward to getting out there Sunday, for sure.”

No. 1 seed or not, Manning said he finds motivation from the loss in the playoffs last year.

“I think we’ve kind of used that throughout the season. We talked about that going into the month of April, with our weightlifting and our offseason training, about using that to fuel you, to make you do an extra set of sprints or an extra set of squads, whatever it may be.

“We’ve used it on the practice field. I don’t think that you just get to this week and you start thinking about it. I think you always want to have something to try to drive you, fuel you and make you better than the year before. I feel like we’ve done that and, like I said, we’re excited to be at this place right now.”

The Broncos host the Chargers this Sunday. Kickoff is at 2:40 p.m. on CBS4.